Officials: Homeowner Staged Hate Crime For Insurance Money
POSTED: Thursday, January 18, 2007
HOUSTON -- A homeowner burned his house down and wrote racial slurs throughout it to collect insurance money, officials told KPRC Local 2 Wednesday.
Harris County arson investigators said Samuel White has been charged with first-degree felony arson in connection with fire at a house in the 13900 block of Elm Park Court in October 2005.
Investigators said White had rented the home to a black family that moved out shortly before the fire.
The power to the home had been shut off before the fire, officials said.
Officials said the home was scheduled for foreclosure based on non-payment of taxes, homeowner's fees and mortgage payments.
Investigators said no hate crime occurred.
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